Towards RevCon4: Civil Society Advocacy Guide on the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms (February 2024)

The purpose of this guide is to assist IANSA network members, other non-governmental organisations, (including community organisations working at the grassroots level and organisations working at the national and regional levels) to help make our world a safer place by sharing recommendations that States should apply to better prevent the illicit proliferation, misuse and trade of small arms and light weapons (SALW). This civil society guide provides an overview of the seven key issues that IANSA has identified as needing particular attention at the Preparatory Meeting (PrepCom) and the Fourth Review Conference on the Programme of Action on small arms (RevCon4). This guide is comprised of two sections. The first section is dedicated to substantive advocacy efforts and introduces each of IANSA key issues and their importance in relation to the UNPoA and the control of the trade in SALW. The second section focuses on how to develop effective advocacy strategies.

The seven key advocacy issues identified by IANSA as priority issues to focus advocacy on in the lead up to RevCon4 are:

• Strengthening transfer controls
• Controlling SALW ammunition
• Collecting, destroying, and safely disposing of surplus SALW and ammunition
• Mainstreaming gender
• Engaging with youth
• Setting national and regional targets
• Controlling the civilian possession of SALW